President Carla Lineback welcomed all to the January 16th meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club held at the Brattleboro Retreat. Sophie Howlett offered a meaningful invocation.This was followed by the pledge of allegiance. Birthday greetings were extended to Greg Worden and Milt Gilmore.
Guests: Visiting Rotarian Wayne Russell (White River Junction) and 7870 District Governor Nancy Russell (speaker)
As a luncheon of chicken thighs, pork loin, black bean medley, broccoli, rice, rolls, and brownies for dessert was being digested, the meeting continued.
TRIVIA QUESTION
How many wineries are located in Vermont?
(Answer below.)
JOKE OF THE WEEK
For the joke of the week, Marty Cohn offered the following:
60th High School Reunion
He was a widower and she a widow.
They had known each other for a number of years being high school classmates and having attended class reunions in the past without fail.
This 60th anniversary of their class, they had a wonderful evening, their spirits high. The widower throwing admiring glances across the table. The widow smiling coyly back at him.
Finally, he picked up the courage to ask her, "Will you marry me?"
After about six seconds of careful consideration, she answered, "Yes,..... yes I will!"
The evening ended on a happy note for the widower. But the next morning he was troubled.
Did she say “Yes” or did she say “No?”
He couldn't remember. Try as he would, he just could not recall. He went over the conversation of the previous evening, but his mind was blank.
He remembered asking the question but for the life of him, he could not recall her response. With fear and trepidation, he picked up the phone and called her.
First, he explained that he couldn't remember as well as he used to. Then he reviewed the past evening.
As he gained a little more courage he then inquired of her. "When I asked if you would marry me, did you say “Yes” or did you say “No?”
"Why you silly man, I said ‘Yes. Yes I will.’ And I meant it with all my heart."
The widower was delighted. He felt his heart skip a beat.
Then she continued. "And I am so glad you called because I couldn't remember who asked me!”
At our January 23rd meeting, Sophie Howlett will tell a joke or lead us in song and Marcy Jones will offer a Rotary Minute. 2019-20 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.
ROTARY MINUTE
For the Rotary Minute, Al Jerard told us about the construction of the Rwanda Public Library in Kigalia, the first of the country, that was built by Rotarians. To learn more, check out the February issue of Rotarian Magazine.
[ED NOTE: Al also praised the article by Marty Cohn in the Brattleboro Reformer about what Rotary does. To read the article, click here.
At our January 23rd meeting, Sophie Howlett will tell a joke or lead us in song and Marcy Jones will offer a Rotary Minute. 2019-20 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
01/23 – Katja Matthews, “All About Wine”
01/30 – William Moclock, “Revitalization of Downtown Springfield, VT”
02/06 – Sophia Howlett, TBD
02/13 – Club Assembly
02/20 – Al Jerard, TBD
02/27 – Margaret Atkinson, “The Basics Vermont”
NOTE: 2019-20 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.
REMINDERS
Bottles and cans can be brought to Putney Road redemption center to benefit Pure Water for the World. Please remember to inform the staff that the bottles and cans should be credited to the club.
This is the 27thnewsletter of the new club year.
If you like this newsletter, please brag at next Club meeting.
So far, there has been only 3 brags!
Does this mean you are not reading this newsletter????
ANNOUNCEMENTS
John Meyer received his second Paul Harris award. This was presented by DG Nancy Russell for his donation of $2000 to the Rotary Foundation.
Cheri Ann Brodhurst received her first Paul Harris award. This was presented by DG Nancy Russell and President Carla Lineback for her service over the past six years.
We received a thank you note from the Bradley House for the senior gifts we donated, as well as from our wonderful server, Maureen Ringer, for her club gift.
Club member Teddy Kramer and Student Rotarians Padma Mendelsund, Elias Gredinger, and Alex Shriver volunteered at the Vermont Foodbank Sort-A-Thon in Brattleboro to sort food on January 11.
On January 13, the club served a full Seasonal Overflow Shelter of 33-night residents a meal with leftovers for the late-night snacks and the drop-in center. The meal included: Steve & Sharon Gordon (Spaghetti & Meatballs), Roger Allbee & Ann Allbee (baked cauliflower and cheese sauce), Ana Saavedra (salad), Regina Stefanelli (rolls & butter), Rich Carroll (milk & cider), and Cyndi Ferrante (dessert) Photo: (l-r) Meal servers Rich Carroll, Lucy Szpila, Chris Szplia, and Lisa Mendelsund
The next SOS meal will be on February 9. If you can help, contact Stan Nowakowski.
A fun time right up your alley.
Please plan to attend the Brattleboro Rotary Club Bowling Night on Friday, January 31stfrom 5:30 – 7:30 pm at Brattleboro Bowl.
Come to not only have some fun but also support the Brattleboro Bowl that generously helps the club’s Christmas Tree fundraiser.
While the club will provide rental shoes, two hours of bowling, a bumper lane, and pizza, donations will gladly be accepted. Also, the bar will be open for all types of drinks. Remember, you don’t have to come to bowlto have your mind in the gutter.
Please RSVP by January 29th to Stan Nowakowski.
George Anthes – for becoming the #1 club Sargent-at-arms.
George Anthes – for his daughter’s first hockey victory over Greenfield.
Betsy Gentile – for the participation of student Rotarians at the Sort-A-Thon and SOS meal.
Cheri Ann Brodhurst – for her Paul Harris award.
Rob Szpila – for Steve Gordon being a mental health advocate.
Milt Gilmore – for his recent fishing trip to Mexico.
Bill McKim – for the two upcoming organ recitals in Brattleboro.
Sandy Rouse – for the Words Project Book Sale on Sat, 1/25 at 118 Eliot Street.
Marty Cohn – for DG Nancy Russell’s leadership in challenging the district to donate to the Australian Bush Fire Appear Fund which has over $15,000 in pledges to date.
Marty Cohn – for his granddaughter Talia trying different solid foods like avocadoes, sweet potatoes, and prunes.
PROGRAM
District Governor Nancy Russell talked about ways to attract new members.
[ED NOTE: District Governor Nancy Russell will be the featured guest on Rotary Cares, episode 24.]
Rotary Cares - TV Show
Rotary Cares, Episode 23 – International Service
In episode 23 of the award-winning, monthly show, Rotary Cares, Brattleboro Rotary Club past president Marty Cohn talks to Ed Dinnany, a director of the Rotary Club of the Bellows Falls and Ann Henderson, International Service Chair for the Rotary Club of Keene-Elm City about their club’s international service projects in El Salvador and Kenya. Directed by Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club past president Kevin Yager in the studio of Brattleboro Community Television.
Past President Martin Cohn who attempts to give a gist of the meeting respectfully submitted this bulletin. However, it is always better to attend. If you have any complaints about the contents of this bulletin...
